Scottish Executive

Accounts Commission

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities are currently subject to investigation by the Accounts Commission.

Peter Peacock: The last local authority subject to an investigation was Scottish Borders Council due to their Education Department overspend.

  Auditors appointed on behalf of the Accounts Commission make preliminary enquiries into local authority accounts on matters brought to their attention either as a result of the audit or by concerned parties. If warranted these will be reported to the Controller of Audit to consider the need for a more formal investigation.

Airports

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects that construction of a rail link to Edinburgh Airport will commence.

Lewis Macdonald: We have commissioned a detailed economic and engineering study into rail links to Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports. The report is expected in September. Dependant on the outcome of that study, it will be for the local authority and/or for example BAA, which owns the airports, to seek the necessary parliamentary powers to build any railway links. The Executive hopes this can be progressed quickly. This could make it possible to move to design and construction by 2005, subject to suitable resources being available at the time.

Airports

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated costs will be of the construction of rail links to Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow Airport and who will be responsible for these costs.

Lewis Macdonald: A study has been commissioned to identify and appraise the options at Edinburgh and Glasgow. The appraisal work will involve detailed engineering studies. Until that work is complete and a preferred option identified any estimates would be purely speculative. Funding mechanisms will also be considered during the study period.

Best Value

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend a statutory duty of Best Value to non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) for which it has responsibility and to which NDPBs this would be applied.

Mr Andy Kerr: We are committed to Best Value and will be extending a requirement for Best Value across the public sector, including NDPBs, by spring 2002.

Best Value

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce a statutory duty of Best Value to the expenditure of each of its departments.

Mr Andy Kerr: We are committed to Best Value and will be extending a requirement for Best Value across the public sector, including departments of the Executive, by spring 2002.

Cancer

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice, guidance or instructions it has given North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust and Greater Glasgow Health Board on planning for handling the caseloads of the clinical oncologists retiring from the Glasgow cancer service and what reports it has received from the trust and the board on their planning for handling these caseloads.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is the responsibility of Dr Adam Bryson, Director of the Beatson Oncology Centre who announced on 18 January 2002 the revised arrangements being put in place to secure continuity of outreach specialist services across the west of Scotland.

Cancer

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19757 by Susan Deacon on 21 November 2001 and the announcement of Dr Adam Bryson's appointment to the Beatson Oncology Centre, whether it is seeking information from the managers of the North Glasgow University Hospitals Trust or the Greater Glasgow NHS Board regarding the levels and trends of new patient referrals accepted or planned for each whole-time equivalent NHS consultant oncologist in the trust and board areas.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information will derive from on-going monitoring of the situation.

Cancer

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin & Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19757 by Susan Deacon on 21 November 2001 and the announcement of Dr Adam Bryson's appointment to the Beatson Oncology Centre, whether guidance will be issued by it or on its behalf regarding the numbers of new patients to be accepted for referrals for each whole-time equivalent NHS consultant oncologist at the centre.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-20750 and S1W-20757 on 4 January 2001.

Cancer

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take following the visit by the Minister for Health and Community Care to the Beatson Oncology Centre on 5 December 2001.

Malcolm Chisholm: I announced on 6 December 2001 that Dr Adam Bryson, would take over as Medical Director of the Beatson Oncology Centre to provide greater impetus and focus to implementing the agreed Action Plan. Dr Bryson is reporting directly to Mr Tom Divers, Chief Executive of NHS Greater Glasgow, but the Executive is keeping in close touch and monitoring the situation.

Cancer

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the resignation of the four consultant staff at the Beatson Oncology Centre has had or will have on the waiting list for referral to a cancer specialist.

Malcolm Chisholm: NHS local management has advised that:

  all clinics currently serviced by consultants based at the Beatson have been reviewed. Over the next six months, prior to substantive appointments being made, interim arrangements will be put in place so that new patients will be a priority to be seen at outreach clinics taking place within their local NHS board area;

  there is no formal waiting list for medical oncology and it is not envisaged there will be an impact on this, and

  radiotherapy waiting times are currently reducing as the new machines funded by the Scottish Executive come on stream.

  I am pleased to confirm that the radiotherapy equipment modernisation programme continues and it is hoped this downward trend will continue. Two new, additional, linear accelerators are expected to be commissioned during the course of 2002.

Cancer

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action the new National Waiting Times Co-ordination Unit will take to improve the service for cancer patients at the Beatson Oncology Unit in Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: Interim arrangements for the provision of oncology clinics in the west of Scotland serviced by the Beatson Oncology Centre consultants were announced by NHS Greater Glasgow on 18 January 2002. These arrangements seek to ensure that services for patients with newly diagnosed cancer, and those with recurrence of active disease, are preserved and importantly, that the timescale within which these patients are seen will not lapse.

  The central role of the National Waiting Times Unit is to ensure that the Scottish Executive's policy of acting to reduce waiting times and to achieve waiting times targets across the patient's journey of care is implemented successfully by NHSScotland. Patients are not currently experiencing waits for treatment at the Beatson which exceed targets and guidelines. There is no waiting time for chemotherapy treatment, and at present, radiotherapy waiting times are approximately four weeks - a reduction from seven to eight weeks over the past year. It is hoped that further waiting times reductions will be delivered as the radiotherapy equipment modernisation programme continues, with a further two additional linear accelerators in place during 2002.

Childcare

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what qualifications it recognises as being appropriate for staff directly employed in council-managed homes for children; what proportion of staff directly employed in council-managed homes for children hold such a qualification, and what action is it taking to increase this proportion.

Cathy Jamieson: Local authority staff, including managers, working in residential childcare hold a variety of qualifications. Social care staff may have for example Diploma in Social Work, SVQs, relevant HNCs or the Certificate in Residential Care of Children and Young People. In addition staff might have teaching, nursing or nursery nursing, play or youth work qualifications. Some staff have no formal qualifications. Decisions about the right mix of skills and qualifications are based on the needs of the children in the different types of residential units. In future the Scottish Social Services Council will lay down such qualifications as part of its work to register staff.

  The Scottish Executive has made the training of staff working in residential childcare a priority for development. In addition to establishing the new Scottish Social Services Council, the Executive has established the Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care to improve the training and qualification of staff and to work with the residential units to promote effective organisational development.

Cities

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report the findings of the Review of Cities.

Iain Gray: I expect the review to conclude in the spring of 2002.

Civil Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to relocate departments or civil servants following the creation of a Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning and, if so, what plans it has for such relocation.

Peter Peacock: There are no plans to relocate departments or civil servants within the responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning.

  Responsibility for tourism transferred to the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport. In the longer term six posts will transfer from Glasgow to Edinburgh.

Community Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that all those assessed as needing care in the community will receive the appropriate level of care from local authorities.

Hugh Henry: Local authorities have a statutory obligation to provide services and secure provision of facilities that are suitable and adequate for people in their areas. We are continuing to provide authorities with the resources, direction and support to meet that statutory obligation and deliver adequate levels of care to all those who require it.

Dental Care

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many orthodontists are employed by the NHS in Scotland; of these how many (a) only take NHS patients and (b) practise privately alongside their NHS work, and how many orthodontists in Scotland only take private patients.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: At 30 September 2000, there were 26 consultant orthodontists employed by NHS Scotland and working in hospitals. Some orthodontic treatment may also be provided by staff employed within the Community Dental Service, but details on the number of those who offer this treatment are not available. In addition, two salaried dentist posts have been approved by Scottish ministers to provide orthodontic treatment under general dental services.

  Information on how many of these staff take only NHS patients, how many practise privately alongside their NHS work and how many take only private patients is not collected.

Digital Scotland

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to ensure that it and local authorities work together in order to share and exchange information on electronic service delivery as set out in point 19 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward , and to what extent the private sector is involved in this delivery.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive working with COSLA has established the Central Local 21st Century Government Forum to promote the sharing of good practice and exchange of information with local authorities.

  The Executive has also provided funding to COSLA to develop a website that will help to promote this activity. The Scottish Executive website also contains details of all of the Modernising Government funded projects that are under way in local authorities; including local authorities working together with both public and private sector partners. Councils are invited and encouraged to submit suitable content and information to the Scottish Executive and to COSLA to help maintain both websites.

  In addition, a Newsletter is published by the Executive highlighting the projects and promoting the sharing and exchange of information relating to the electronic service delivery being promoted via these projects. The Executive website also contains information and links via the E-Envoys office to other UK and international initiatives.

Digital Scotland

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the public sector has formed partnerships with commercial firms in order to reduce the cost of delivering public services electronically as set out in point 28 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force,  Digital Scotland: The Way Forward .

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has taken every appropriate opportunity to work with the private sector in delivering projects, including involving the 21st Century Government Reference Group and the wider private sector in discussions about the development of various projects for the second phase of the Modernising Government Fund. Details of those partners already involved in Modernising Government Fund projects can be found on the internet at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/government/c21g/fund.asp.

Drug Misuse

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases relating to the possession of (a) cannabis or (b) cannabis resin in the City of Edinburgh were reported to the Procurators Fiscal in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999 and (iv) 2000 and how many cases were dealt with by (1) a warning letter or (2) a fixed penalty notice.

Colin Boyd QC: Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service records relating to reports under section 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 do not distinguish between the different controlled drugs to which that section relates and the information is, accordingly, not available.

Education

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education will make an assessment into the impact of the cuts made on the provision of education in the Scottish Borders by the Scottish Borders Council.

Nicol Stephen: It is a matter for Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) to determine the timing of inspections, including the inspection of the education functions of local councils. HMIE notified Scottish Borders Council on 28 January that it would be conducting an inspection of the education functions of the council. The main inspection activity will take place between late March and early May, with a report of the findings to be published in June 2002.

Emergency Services

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to 999 operators on which emergency services to contact when dealing with a call relating to (a) a road traffic accident, (b) a house fire during the day, (c) a house fire during the night and (d) suspected suicide.

Dr Richard Simpson: BT operators connect a 999 caller to the service they ask for but in cases where it is not clear they go through a series of prompts. Where more than one, or all three emergency services are required, BT will connect with each service in turn. If the member has a particular case in mind in pursuing this matter and cares to write to me, I will be happy to investigate further.

Emergency Services

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are followed by the emergency services on whether to contact other emergency services when dealing with (a) a road traffic accident, (b) a house fire during the day, (c) a house fire during the night and (d) suspected suicide.

Dr Richard Simpson: The emergency services are in constant touch through their respective control rooms in handling 999 incidents and follow established procedures and guidance in attending singly or together at the kind of incidents described. If the member has a particular issue in mind in pursuing this matter and cares to write to me, I will be happy to investigate further.

Energy

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote training and skills development in the energy industry.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive continues to work through the pilot oil and gas working group to identify skills and training needs across the energy industry, to ensure relevant delivery against these needs and to promote an industry-wide co-ordinated approach to education and training. In addition, the Executive is working with the Department for Education and Skills to ensure that Scottish interests are taken into account in developing the Sector Skills Council (SSC) network which comes into effect in March 2002. The new network will include a Trailblazer Petrochemicals SSC covering the oil and gas industry.

Energy

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote research and development in the energy industry in partnership with the industry and the higher and further education sectors.

Ms Wendy Alexander: A proposal for an Energy Intermediary Research Institute is being developed by Scottish Enterprise. In addition, the Scottish Energy Environment Foundation already promotes commercialisation of energy research and development.

Enterprise

John Young (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase direct exports from Scotland.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Global Connections Strategy, launched in October 2001, sets out the Executive’s aims for future international economic development activity. The strategy led to the creation of Scottish Development International which brings together the experience and expertise of Scottish Trade International and Locate in Scotland.

  Scottish Development International is responsible for delivering a range of initiatives to meet the aims of the strategy including the need to ensure that companies are able to realise the full benefits of trading in international markets. It provides generic and custom market research and knowledge to Scottish companies and delivers customised strategic market entry support. This covers a wide range of activities including the delivery of all government trade services in Scotland, tailored Market Assistance Programmes and assistance for companies on outward missions and attendance at exhibitions. Work is done with companies on a one to one basis.

Environment

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide statistical information in respect of levels of environmental pollution from the BP Grangemouth plant.

Allan Wilson: This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The information requested is not held centrally.

Environment

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency will undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment of the Marine Harvest salmon farm at Naast on Loch Ewe before a renewal of the farm’s licence or any increase in its biomass limit is granted.

Allan Wilson: Decisions about Environmental Impact Assessments are for the competent authority, currently the Crown Estate. No development application, either for renewal or modification, has been received to date by the Crown Estate for the site in question.

European Union

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any implications for Scottish business of any review by the European Commission of maintenance of trade routes within and between member states of the European Union.

Lewis Macdonald: The regulation of trade is a reserved matter. However, the Executive is in regular contact with the Department of Trade and Industry on trade issues including those relating to the Free Movement of Goods (FMOG) Regulation – Council Regulation EC No 2679/98. Following a report by the European Commission in March 2001 on the application of the FMOG Regulation the Council of the EU adopted a set of Conclusions in September 2001 committing member states to a more dynamic approach in applying the Regulation. The Executive will continue to work with DTI on this matter and the follow up to the Council’s Conclusions on the Regulation.

Football

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in supporting the bid by the Scottish Football Association to host the European Football Championships in 2008.

Mike Watson: The First Minister explained in his statement to Parliament on 23 January 2002 that, having considered carefully the practicalities, costs and benefits of staging Euro 2008, the Executive supports a potential joint bid with the Republic of Ireland. Executive officials are presently in consultation with the Irish Government and the SFA.

Gaelic

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it anticipates a shortage of teachers qualified to teach in Gaelic-medium education in 2001-02.

Nicol Stephen: Education authorities (EAs) are asked in the Executive's annual teacher workforce planning exercise to estimated their requirements for Gaelic-medium teachers. The following table shows information on estimated EA requirements for academic sessions 2001-02 and 2002-03 along with information on graduates in 2000-01 and estimates of those who will graduate in 2001-02.

  


Academic session 
  

Student Graduates 
  

Academic session 
  

Education Authority Requirements 
  



Primary 
  

Secondary 
  

Primary 
  

Secondary 
  



2000-01 
  

12 
  

3 
  

2001-02 
  

19 
  

8 
  



2001-02 
  

24 
  

2 
  

2002-03 
  

22 
  

14 
  



Total 
  

36 
  

5 
  

Total 
  

41 
  

22 
  



  In session 2001-02 there is a substantial increase in the numbers graduating from primary teacher training who will be able to teach in the Gaelic-medium. This is as a result of the funding 10 additional student places at Strathclyde University specifically to support primary Gaelic-medium provision.

  The position in relation to secondary teachers is that teacher education institutions take the positive approach of interviewing all course applicants who would be able to teach in Gaelic-medium education.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any patients who face a long waiting list for surgery provided by the NHS in Scotland will be given the option of being treated elsewhere in the EU.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has no immediate plans to arrange treatment in the EU for patients, other than those individuals being treated under the long-standing E112 arrangements. The English Department of Health is currently piloting projects in the South East of England to see how patients can best benefit from NHS treatment in Europe, and we will monitor the success of these pilots.

Health

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish a strategy for Pharmaceutical Care in Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: I am pleased to announce that the Strategy entitled The Right Medicine: A Strategy for Pharmaceutical Care in Scotland , is published today. It was produced after a period of consultation with patient representative groups, pharmacists and other healthcare professions and meets the commitment in Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change to develop a strategy for pharmacy. Copies of the strategy have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 18835).

Highlands and Islands Airports

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what has been (a) the experience in business, aviation and tourism and (b) the political affiliation of all board members of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd since 1997.

Lewis Macdonald: There are currently five part-time members on the Board of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) and one full-time member. All have business experience, two have aviation experience and none has any direct involvement in tourism. The three former members since 1997 all had business experience and one had aviation experience. Under the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Code, applicants for public appointments are not obliged to declare details of their political affiliations which are a private matter. None of the present or former members undertook political activity in the five-year period prior to their appointment.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the statistical information on hospital-acquired infection collated by the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health is communicated to, and acted on, by hospitals.

Malcolm Chisholm: Regular feedback from the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH) to NHS boards and hospitals of centrally analysed local and national data about hospital infections is a key component of the new national surveillance framework announced in July 2001. Information began to be collected in October 2001. Analysed information will begin to flow from SCIEH to NHS boards and hospitals from the beginning of April this year. Local NHS managers are responsible for ensuring that information is reviewed and where necessary acted on. The new standards for NHSScotland for infection control, cleaning services and decontamination of reusable medical devices which are being introduced by the Clinical Standards Board will help ensure this happens.

Hospitals

John Young (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to fabric decline and reduction in facilities for staff at the Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for South Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust.

  The trust’s Chief Executive, Mr Robert Calderwood, has advised me that there have been no reductions to clinical services provided on the Victoria Infirmary (VI) estate in the period from April 1997 to date.

  Since the beginning of 1998, a number of upgrading programmes have been carried out at the VI. These include the creation of improved accommodation for the Haemato-Oncology Inpatient Unit; the creation of a dedicated Breast Care Unit and new theatre accommodation and the upgrading and installation of new radiology equipment. In addition, in December 2001 a £250,000 upgrade of ward 17, an acute medical ward, was completed.

  The South Trust also intends to look at the provision of improved staff changing and associated facilities and other fabric improvements during the present calendar year.

Hospitals

John Young (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a target date has been set for construction of a new hospital building to replace the Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow.

Malcolm Chisholm: No. The future of the Victoria Infirmary forms part of Greater Glasgow NHS Board’s review of acute services throughout the city. The Executive will shortly receive the NHS Board’s Acute Strategy and Implementation Plan for consideration.

Housing

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is monitoring Her Majesty's Government's pilot schemes for the establishment of Arms Length Housing Companies to increase investment in local authority housing; whether it intends to commission any research on the use of Arms Length Housing Companies, and whether it plans to identify any pilot schemes for the use of Arms Length Housing Companies to increase investment in local authority housing.

Ms Margaret Curran: A number of councils in England are in the process of setting up arms length housing management companies to support capital investment in council housing. There are currently no plans to establish such companies in Scotland.

Justice

Roseanna Cunningham (Perth) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanism is in place to prevent a conflict of interest arising when solicitors employed by the civil service receive instructions in the same matter from both the Lord Advocate and the Advocate General.

Colin Boyd QC: The Lord Advocate and the Advocate General are supported by separate civil service offices. There is no joint office which works for both of them. No question of conflict of interest therefore arises.

Justice

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15753 by Mr Jim Wallace on 11 July 2001, whether it supports the use by the Scottish Law Commission in its report on Boundary Division Walls (Report No. 163, paragraph 1.4, footnote 6) of the case of Robertson  v  Scott 1886 (13R 1127) as being central to its opinion that that case changed the law on march fence type divisions when it concerned a common or mutual gable and when the only question which was put before the court in that case, and the only decision given by the court, was that as a predecessor of a later builder had paid the cost of half the wall, that later builder was entitled to get back a payment he had made by mistake on beginning to use the gable, and what recognition it has given to this decision which established that the wall in question was legally held as common or mutual property "pro indiviso", as confirmed by Professor Bell in Principles of the Law of Scotland , (10th Edition 1899, section 1078).

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15753 by Mr Jim Wallace on 11 July 2001, what recognition it has given to those legal titles concerning boundary division subjects which are extant and which conform to, and are based on, the legal standing of the subject as set out in Principles of the Law of Scotland, (10th Edition 1899, section 1078).

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15753 by Mr Jim Wallace on 11 July 2001, what action it plans to take in respect of holders of legal title concerning boundary division subjects which are based on the Principles of the Law of Scotland , (10th Edition 1899, section 1078) which confirmed the subjects as being held as common or mutual property "pro indiviso" if such holders’ rights and value in their property are affected in adverse manner by an alleged change in the law to ownership only to the mid-point of the subject and how it will address any confusion and inequality amongst such ‘pro-indiviso’ holders.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive considers reports of the commission as a whole. The commission concluded that the existing law as decided by the case of Thom  v  Hetherington 1988  SLT 724 was satisfactory and that there was no need for legislation to restate or reform it. The Executive continues to support that recommendation and does not plan to take any action in this area.

Local Government Finance

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it provides financial support, through Grant Aided Expenditure or other mechanisms, towards the provision of local authority run animal centres; if so, which local authorities currently receive any such support and how much each of these local authorities receive.

Peter Peacock: Revenue grant provided to local authorities is largely unhypothecated and is available for councils to spend on the whole range of council services. No funding is set aside specifically for local authority run animal centres.

NHS Expenditure

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its final detailed proposals for NHS capital expenditure for 2002-03.

Malcolm Chisholm: The proposed changes to the capital planning and approvals process are currently being considered following a period of consultation with NHSScotland. It is anticipated that the outcome of this exercise will be announced by the end of March.

NHS Staff

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish a "Staff Charter" for NHS staff.

Malcolm Chisholm: Our National Health announced our intention to prepare a "Staff Governance Standard" and I launched this at the Scottish Partnership Conference on 25 January 2002. Under the Standard, NHS employees are entitled to be:

  well informed;

  appropriately trained;

  involved in decisions which affect them;

  treated fairly and consistently, and

  provided with an improved and safe working environment.

  Amongst other policies and agreements, the Staff Governance Standard will be underpinned by the Education and Lifelong Learning Strategy "Learning Together", the Occupational Health and Safety Strategy "Towards a Safer Healthier Workplace" and by the best practice guidance on people management produced by the Scottish Partnership Forum, which represents all staff groups.

  Performance against the standard will be assessed by the Scottish Partnership Forum and local partnership forums and form an integral part of the new performance and accountability framework. Boards will be expected to demonstrate that they are exemplar employers. Employers' progress towards meeting the standard will also be informed through staff surveys, the first of which requires to be completed by the end of March 2002.

National Parks

John Young (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration is being given to banning powerboats and similar vessels on Loch Lomond.

Allan Wilson: Schedule 2 to the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 provides National Park Authorities with wide-ranging byelaw making powers. These include powers to make byelaws to secure the public enjoyment of, and safety in, the National Park; the prevention or suppression of nuisances, and the regulation of recreational activities. Once established, therefore, it will be for the Park Authority to determine how to exercise these powers as part of the overall management of the National Park.

  Where a National Park Authority proposes to make and introduce byelaws it must publicise that fact and, in addition, consult with interested parties on such proposals.

Police

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports were submitted to the Lothian and Borders Regional Procurator Fiscal regarding assaults upon a police officer; how many such reports were proceeded with by the service of a complaint or petition, and how many such reports resulted in a conviction, all in each year since 1997.

Elish Angiolini QC: Serious assaults on police officers are prosecuted at common law and cannot be distinguished in the records from serious assaults on other persons. Less serious assaults on police officers are prosecuted under section 41(1) of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 but cannot be distinguished in the records from other contraventions of that section (such as obstructing police officers or assisting persons to escape). The information sought is, accordingly, not available.

Police

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve relations between the police and young people as a result of the research evidence made available to the Stephen Lawrence Steering Group showing that both minority ethnic and white youths appear alienated from the police.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive regards the report on the use of police stop and search powers as an important contribution to the understanding of police practice in this area. While the findings provide reassurance that the powers are being used appropriately, they also identified areas of concern including anecdotal evidence that minority ethnic and white youths appeared to be alienated from the police. We are, therefore, together with the Scottish Police Service, carefully considering the findings and recommendations in order to determine what action is necessary.

Police

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve police practice in dealing with both minority ethnic and white young people as a result of the evidence of poor practice highlighted in the research made available to the Stephen Lawrence Steering Group.

Mr Jim Wallace: This is primarily a matter for Chief Constables to consider. However, under the direction of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the Scottish Police Service is considering the research findings and what improvements it could make to improve its practice, particularly in regard to young people.

Police

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that police officers do not avoid contact with people from black and minority ethnic communities for fear that they might be labelled "racist" as highlighted in the research evidence made available to the Stephen Lawrence Steering Group.

Mr Jim Wallace: Chief Constables both individually and collectively through the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland are providing diversity awareness training, guidance and support to create a climate which will enable officers to engage with confidence and in an appropriate manner with members of minority ethnic communities.

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-20062 and S1W-20064 by Mr Jim Wallace on 17 December 2001, under what legislation the Scottish Prison Service is allowed to take digital images of visitors as part of the Visitor Identity System in place at HM Prisons Barlinnie and Edinburgh.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Visitor Identity Systems have been introduced to prevent prisoners escaping and to prevent prohibited visitors from entering prison. In terms of the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989 and the Prisoners and Criminal Proceedings (Scotland) Act 1993 the Scottish ministers have a duty to ensure that prisoners are only released in accordance with the provisions of these acts. In terms of rule 78 of the Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 1994 (as amended) the Governor is responsible for the supervision of the whole prison and the control of prisoners confined therein. The Visitor Identity System is being carried out in pursuance of these duties.

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20062 by Mr Jim Wallace on 17 December 2001, whether the electronically scanned image of a visitor's right index finger and/or the digital image of a visitor's face is forwarded to the police national database, kept on record within HM Prisons Barlinnie or Edinburgh or elsewhere, or destroyed immediately the visitor has left the establishment.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Neither the scanned image of a finger nor the digital image of a visitor’s face is forwarded to the police national database. This information is retained within the prisons only to speed up access at subsequent visits by the same person.

Prison Service

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20065 by Mr Jim Wallace on 17 December 2001, what legal opinion it or the Scottish Prison Service has obtained on the compliance of the Visitor Identity System with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Visitor Identity Systems have been introduced to prevent prisoners escaping and to prevent prohibited visitors from entering prison. Legal advisers have been consulted on the system and, in the light of legal advice received the Scottish Prison Service, is satisfied that it can be justified in terms of the European Convention on Human Rights as a necessary and proportionate measure designed to prevent disorder or crime.

Public Appointments

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many councillors from the City of Edinburgh City Council have been appointed to non-departmental public bodies, Social Inclusion Partnerships or other publicly remunerative posts in each year since 1997 and what the (a) posts and (b) remuneration received were in each case.

The Executive has supplied the following corrected answer:

Peter Peacock: Edinburgh City Councillors appointed to non-departmental public bodies are listed in the table below:

  


Name 
  

NDPB 
  

Party political affiliation 
  

Appt from 
  

Appt to 
  

Remuneration 
  



Kingsley E F Thomas 
  

Scottish Advisory Committee on Drugs Misuse (declassified 
  1/9/01) 
  

Labour 
  

01/00 
  

12/02 
  

none 
  



Daphne Sleigh 
  

Scottish Homes 
  

Conservative 
  

09/90 
  

03/99 
  

7,464 
  



Elizabeth Maginnis 
  

General Teaching Council For Scotland 
  

Labour 
  

03/93 
  

01/99 
  

none 
  



Donald Anderson 
  

VisitScotland 
  

Labour 
  

12/98 
  

09/05 
  

7,628 
  



Marilyne A Maclaren 
  

Central Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace (Scotland) 
  

Liberal Democrat 
  

12/96 
  

10/01 
  

none 
  



James L Walls 
  

Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee (Edinburgh) 
  

Conservative 
  

03/97 
  

02/03 
  

none 
  



Lesley Hinds 
  

Health Education Board for Scotland 
  

Labour 
  

07/98 
  

03/04 
  

2,118 
  



Moyra Forrest 
  

Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee (Edinburgh) 
  

Liberal Democrat 
  

06/97 
  

05/06 
  

none 
  



Robert Cairns 
  

East of Scotland Water Authority (Chair) 
  

Labour 
  

04/98 
  

03/02 
  

27,025 
  



Historic Buildings for Scotland 
  

 


12/95 
  

12/01 
  

none 
  



Eric Milligan 
  

Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee (Edinburgh) 
  

Labour 
  

05/99 
  

05/03 
  

none 
  



  Full details of appointments made to health trusts and boards in the Lothian and NHS Borders areas since 1997 were given in the answer to question S1W-20382 on 10 December.

  Information on Edinburgh City Councillors who have been appointed to Social Inclusion Partnerships or other publicly remunerative posts in each year since 1997 is not held centrally.

Public Sector

Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1558 by Donald Dewar on 28 September 1999, what definition of "Edinburgh" it uses for the purposes of its policy on the location and relocation of public service jobs in Scotland.

Peter Peacock: For the purposes of the relocation policy, Edinburgh is defined as the area within the Edinburgh City Council boundary.

Public Sector Pay

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether education advisers working for local authorities received an increase in pay consistent with the increase awarded to teachers earlier this year.

Nicol Stephen: No, not all. The pay and conditions of service for education advisers is currently under review by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) Psychologists and Advisers working group. They expect to make recommendations to the full SNCT on 28 February 2002.

Public Transport

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20917 by Lewis Macdonald on 8 January 2002, what specific issues were discussed at its meetings last year with representatives of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority.

Lewis Macdonald: In the last year the Executive has met bilaterally with the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority to discuss the following issues.

  


Issue 
  



Clyde & Western Isles Ferries Tendering Exercise 
  



Larkhall-Milngavie Rail Link 
  



Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) 
  



Public Transport Fund and SPT capital programme 
  



Rail Access to Airports Study 
  



Review of Strategic Planning 
  



Special Rail Grant allocation for 2001-02 
  



SPT funding 
  



Traveline

Rail Freight

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any impact on Scottish businesses of the current restrictions on rail freight through the Channel Tunnel and of any related issues in respect of timing and reliability of trains.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21001 on 31 December 2001.

Rail Freight

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had, or is having, discussions with Her Majesty's Government with a view to identifying solutions to any difficulties facing Scottish businesses arising from the current restrictions on rail freight through the Channel Tunnel.

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government in respect of safeguarding public investment in cross-Channel rail freight developments in order to protect access to rail freight for Scottish businesses.

Lewis Macdonald: Both rail freight generally and European railway services are reserved matters. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including how any changes to rail freight services using the Channel Tunnel might impact on Scotland.

Rail Freight

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of any significant fines owed by English Welsh & Scottish Railway on the company’s Scottish business interests.

Lewis Macdonald: None. European railway services are a reserved issue and the imposition of fines on freight operators using the Channel Tunnel is a matter for the UK Government. However, we understand that there have been no such civil penalties imposed on English Welsh & Scottish Railways since May 2001.

Rail Freight

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact on Scottish business of any security issues at the Channel Tunnel.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21001 on 31 December 2001.

Rail Freight

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any impact on Scottish business of any rail freight terminal closures arising from the current restrictions on rail freight through the Channel Tunnel and what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government on this matter.

Lewis Macdonald: Both rail freight generally and European railway services are reserved matters. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including rail freight services. I am not aware of the impending closure of any freight terminals in Scotland, arising from the current restrictions on rail freight through the Channel Tunnel.

Rail Freight

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made regarding any possibility of Consignia ceasing to use rail freight in Scotland given the possible impact on the road transport system.

Lewis Macdonald: The decision whether to continue using rail freight is a commercial matter for Consignia. In accordance with the Scottish Executive’s policy of encouraging the use of rail for freight movements, I hope Consignia continue to use rail. The Executive, however, has no direct locus or powers to intervene.

Renewable Energy

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist companies originating from Scotland in benefiting from new opportunities in renewable energy.

Ross Finnie: We will continue to work with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to demonstrate to Scottish companies the opportunities now arising as a result of new renewable energy schemes being planned in Scotland, and refurbishment of existing ones. These schemes are being brought forward by developers in response to the Executive’s forthcoming Renewables Obligation (Scotland).

Road Safety

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many requests it has received, or representations have been made to it, by or on behalf of community councils for reductions in local speed limits and how many such requests or representations have resulted in any reduction in speed limits in each of the years (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02.

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which community councils have made requests or representations to it to reduce local speed limits that have not resulted in any reduction in speed limits on roads in their areas.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what emergency arrangements BEAR Scotland Ltd has in place for extreme weather conditions in the Highland Council area compared to the previous arrangements in place under the council.

Lewis Macdonald: BEAR Scotland Ltd has arrangements in place for extreme winter weather conditions to mobilise standby plant, re-deploy resources from the combined North East and North West Units and to obtain additional resources from Ennstone Thistle, some local contractors and councils. Additional resources may also be obtained from BEAR’s partners outwith the geographical area.

  The previous arrangements under Highland Council included the use of standby plant, the redeployment of resources within the council area and the possible employment of local contractors.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why BEAR Scotland Ltd has not responded to correspondence from Strathdearn Community Council dated 10 November 2001 regarding snowclearing and gritting on the A9 and what monitoring it conducts in respect of BEAR Scotland Ltd’s response to correspondence.

Lewis Macdonald: BEAR has replied to outstanding correspondence from Strathdearn Community Council on 12 November 2001 and apologised for overlooking earlier correspondence.

  The Performance Audit Group carries out audits of the Operating Companies across a wide range of functions, including dealing with correspondence.

  Scottish Executive managers are aware that BEAR has not complied with contractual requirements with regard to general correspondence. A default notice has been issued and monies withheld. The Executive will continue to keep this matter under review.

Roads

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why the outside lane of the dual carriageway between Tomatin and Inverness remained covered with snow and ice for the whole day on Saturday 29 December 2001 and why, on that day, the road at Daviot was blocked by jack-knifed lorries unable to negotiate the hill.

Lewis Macdonald: Due to heavy snowfalls during the weekend of 29-30 December 2001, BEAR deployed gritters and snow ploughs on the A9.

  The first priority on dual carriageway roads is to keep one lane open in each direction and once this has been achieved the gritters treat the outside lanes. However, due to the heavy prolonged snowfall on 29 December 2001 the gritters were fully deployed keeping one lane open. Consequently, it was not possible to keep the outside lane between Tomatin and Inverness free from ice and snow.

  With regard to the problems experienced by lorries on the hill at Daviot, I understand that a lorry overtook a gritter and became stuck in the outside lane. However, it did not block the road and other vehicles were able to pass safely using the inside lane. The lorry was removed soon after the incident.

Rural Development

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much rural land is currently held by each local authority under the Common Good Fund and whether such land is being managed in the best way to ensure sustainable development or the well-being of the communities on whose behalf the land is held.

Peter Peacock: The information requested is not held centrally.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is required to conduct an environmental assessment prior to any application for planning permission being granted for waste management handling facilities and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Ms Margaret Curran: No. The environmental impact assessment process associated with planning applications is co-ordinated by the planning authority. The responsibility for preparing the environmental statement rests with the applicant. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is consulted by the planning authority when evaluating the environmental statement.

  These procedures are set out in the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999. These regulations implemented Council Directive 85/337/EEC, as amended.

Scottish Executive Finance

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide level 3 figures for the administration budgets for all its departments in each of the last two years and the draft figures for each of the next two years.

Mr Andy Kerr: The table sets out the level 3 figures, based on original published plans, for the Scottish Executive’s administration budget, which covers the whole costs of running the Executive, disaggregated where appropriate between departments. Only the administration costs element of the budget, which includes expenditure on pay, office overhead costs, ministers and special advisors is allocated to departments, the remainder of the budget is managed centrally.

  


 


2000-01
Original Plans
(£ million) 
  

2001-02
Original Plans
(£ million) 
  

2002-03
Original Plans
(£ million) 
  

2003-04
Original Plans
(£ million1) 
  



Total Administration costs 
  

199.8 
  

211.9 
  

214.2 
  

218.0 
  



% change year on year (real terms) 
  

 


3.5% 
  

-1.4% 
  

-0.7% 
  



Admin costs as a % of Total Managed Expenditure 
  

1.11 
  

1.07 
  

1.01 
  

0.98 
  



Scottish Executive Administration Budget by Department 
  (Level 3) 
  



SE Administration Costs: 
  

Development 
  

16.2 
  

18.7 
  

16.9 
  

 




Education 
  

14.5 
  

12.9 
  

11.3 
  

 




Enterprise and Lifelong Learning 
  

9.8 
  

11.2 
  

11.9 
  

 




Health 
  

11.1 
  

12.9 
  

13.7 
  

 




Rural Affairs 
  

27.7 
  

31.8 
  

32.0 
  

 




Justice 
  

13.4 
  

18.6 
  

17.2 
  

 




Corporate Services 
  

61.9 
  

64.4 
  

48.8 
  

 




Finance and Central Services (FCSD) 
  

0.0 
  

0.0 
  

24.7 
  

 




Total Administration 
  

154.6 
  

170.5 
  

176.5 
  

179.8 
  



Capital Charges 
  

20.4 
  

23.3 
  

24.7 
  

25.2 
  



Accountant in Bankruptcy2


3.7 
  

3.4 
  

0.0 
  

0.0 
  



External Relations Initiatives2


0.1 
  

0.1 
  

0.0 
  

0.0 
  



Capital Projects 
  

21.0 
  

14.6 
  

13.0 
  

13.0 
  



  The variances in departmental allocations from one year to the next are due to restructuring and transferring of functions, creation of a Finance and Central Services Department, and the transfer of HM Inspectors of Schools to agency status.

  Notes:

  1. Departmental allocations for 2003-04 have not yet been finalised.

  2. Accountant in Bankruptcy and External Relations will become the responsibility of the Justice Department and FCSD respectively from 2002-03 onwards.

Single European Currency

John Young (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it, or any bodies within its general responsibility, will have any responsibility in relation to overseeing arrangements for any referendum on the euro.

Mr Andy Kerr: UK membership of the European single currency is a reserved matter. Any referendum on UK membership would be held in accordance with the provisions of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.

  Although the Executive would not have a formal role, bodies within its general responsibility – Scottish local authorities – would. There would be a Chief Counting Officer who would be responsible for the UK as a whole. He/she would formally appoint counting officers for each relevant area in the UK. In the context of Scotland, this is a local authority area.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIP) are currently in operation; how many people are employed by each SIP, and what employment, administrative and property costs are associated with each SIP.

Ms Margaret Curran: There are 48 Social Inclusion Partnerships operating in Scotland. The Partnerships have provided the following information on their staffing and costs for the last financial year, 2000-01. This information excludes project staff and costs and "in kind" provision of resources from partners but includes support staff and in some instances, development workers. In many cases costs are met from a variety of sources.

  


SIP 
  

Number of Employees 
  

Employment Costs 
  

Property Costs 
  

Administrative Costs 
  



Alloa South and East 
  

1 
  

£27,000 
  

£12,000 
  

£3,000 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

0.5 
  

£10,265 
  

- 
  

£10,131 
  



Big Step1


10 
  

£228,918 
  

£28,453 
  

£44,148 
  



Blantyre and North Hamilton 
  

5 
  

£126,000 
  

£6,000 
  

£12,000 
  



Cambuslang 
  

In kind 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



Craigmillar 
  

5 
  

£138,106 
  

£16,222 
  

£24,832 
  



Drumchapel1


5 
  

£134,293 
  

£29,415 
  

£32,632 
  



Dundee Young Carers 
  

3 
  

£40,366 
  

£1,827 
  

£8,758 
  



Dundee SIP 1 
Dundee SIP 2 
  

9 
  

£165,390 
  

£3,000 
  

£13,354 
  



East Ayrshire Coalfields Area 
  

6 
  

£87,399 
  

£17,052 
  

£33,953 
  



Edinburgh Strategic Programme 
  

1 
  

£15,700 
  

£800 
  

£5,550 
  



Edinburgh Youth 
  

3 plus 2 part time, 3 short term part time 
  

£73,019 
  

£7,465 
  

£21,360 
  



Falkirk 
  

2 
  

£38,700 
  

- 
  

£4,000 
  



Fife 
  

In kind 
  

- 
  

- 
  

- 
  



FRAE Fife 
  

4 plus 8 part time 
  

£70,229 
  

£20,066 
  

£19,900 
  



GARA 
  

2 
  

£46,000 
  

£10,000 
  

£15,000 
  



Girvan Connections 
  

3 
  

£49,877 
  

£4,450 
  

£13,797 
  



Glasgow East End1


6 
  

£135,157 
  

£50,656 
  

£24,101 
  



Glasgow North1
Milton 
Springburn 
  

8 
  

£175,844 
  

£27,650 
  

£23,075 
  



Glasgow Smaller Areas 
  

4 
  

£97,556 
  

- 
  

£16,000 
  



GO – Perth and Kinross 
  

6 
  

£123,677 
  

£14,126 
  

£29,903 
  



Gorbals1


3 
  

£75,824 
  

£13,174 
  

£12,880 
  



Greater Northern 
  

5 plus 1 part time 
  

£135,336 
  

£12,616 
  

£26,957 
  



Greater Easterhouse1


5 
  

£108,332 
  

£30,021 
  

£35,233 
  



Greater Govan1


4 
  

£75,001 
  

£12,522 
  

£11,605 
  



Greater Pollock1


6 
  

£162,420 
  

£16,641 
  

£19,379 
  



Highland and Islands 
  

2 
  

£47,000 
  

- 
  

£6,339 
  



Inverclyde 
  

7 
  

£156,867 
  

£12,098 
  

£19,201 
  



Levern Valley 
  

2 
  

£17,042 
  

£7,734 
  

£34,998 
  



Moray Youthstart 
  

2 
  

£42,057 
  

£10,913 
  

£4,949 
  



Motherwell North 
  

5.5 
  

£107,733 
  

£22,038 
  

£31,757 
  



North Ayr 
  

8 
  

£202,435 
  

£130,631 
  

£30,607 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

8 
  

£205,000 
  

(in admin costs ) 
  

£64,000 
  



North Edinburgh 
  

3 plus 3 part time 
  

£135,227 
  

£8,800 
  

£46,164 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

1 
  

£15,910 
  

- 
  

£12,240 
  



Paisley 
  

7 
  

£240,816 
  

£6,904 
  

£77,032 
  



Routes Out1


1.7 
  

£56,589 
  

£5,209 
  

£9,285 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

1 plus 1 part time (part year) 
  

£9,659 
  

- 
  

£4,175 
  



South Coatbridge 
  

1 
  

£8,794 
  

- 
  

£9,317 
  



South Edinburgh 
  

5 
  

£142,700 
  

£7,000 
  

£27,500 
  



Stirling 
  

2 
  

£54,336 
  

- 
  

£7,779 
  



Tranent 
  

4 
  

£120,000 
  

£18,000 
  

£35,000 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

20 plus 1 part time 
  

£366,059 
  

£14,490 
  

£24,901 
  



West Lothian 
  

1 
  

£31,794 
  

- 
  

£34,669 
  



Xplore 
  

9 plus 2 part time 
  

£178,728 
  

£14,000 
  

£10,250 
  



  Note:

  1. Staff are employed by Glasgow Alliance.

Teacher Training

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with teacher training institutions to improve the number of people with special needs taking part in training.

Nicol Stephen: There has been no discussion with teacher education institutions to improve the number of people with special needs taking part in training. The Scottish Executive is in discussion with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) regarding whether there is a need to make changes to the council's Medical Standards and the requirement to undergo medical examination to ensure medical fitness to teach. A Disability Equality in Scottish Teaching sub-group has been set up by the GTCS which will review this issue along with exploring the difficulties faced by disabled people already in teaching and those who wish to enter the profession and propose strategies for meeting these difficulties.

Teacher Training

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students currently undertaking initial teacher training are registered as (a) deaf and (b) visually impaired.

Nicol Stephen: The information requested is not held centrally.

Teacher Training

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to improve the numbers of people with special needs undertaking initial teacher training.

Nicol Stephen: All Scottish Executive recruitment activity is designed to appeal to the widest range of potential teachers and this would include those people with special needs.

Water Authorities

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people make recreational use of the walkways around Mugdock and Craigmaddie reservoirs each year and how many people are expected to visit these reservoirs each year following the construction of the new Milngavie water treatment plant.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water Authority. The Chief Executive’s response is as follows:

  West of Scotland Water commissioned a survey of visitors to the reservoirs at Milngavie over a four-day period in August 2001. This showed that some 3,250 recreational users visit the reservoirs in a week, therefore suggesting between 150,000 and 170,000 visitors every year.

  The authority is committed to maintaining public access to the existing walkways around the reservoirs following completion of the new water treatment works such that the development will have no significant impact on the footpaths or other public areas.

  The authority has made considerable efforts in its planning of the new treatment works to ensure that the amenity value of the reservoirs will not be adversely impacted by the works, which will be well screened from the public walkways by trees and will be designed to have minimum visibility from footpaths used by visitors.

Water Authorities

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action the West of Scotland Water Authority will take to liaise with the local community during preparatory works for the proposed water treatment plant at Milngavie.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water Authority. The Chief Executive’s response is as follows:

  West of Scotland Water has been extremely proactive in its liaison with the local community regarding the Katrine Water Project - both in the consultations which have been crucial to the whole option selection process, and in the preparatory work which is proceeding ahead of the construction works.

  Consultation and communications activities have included a series of briefing meetings with local community organisations and groups, a series of public meetings (comprising presentations and question and answer sessions), the use of a mobile information unit sited within the community (which attracted over 3,000 visitors), the provision of regular press releases to local press and use of local press advertisements. A Community Forum comprising representatives of community councils and local interest groups has also been established to further involve the community and this recently held its inaugural meeting.

Water Authorities

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the analytical matrix was for the site selection process for the Katrine Water Project.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water Authority. The Chief Executive’s response is as follows:

  A large number of different criteria were used to consider all of the selected sites. For each criterion, the sites were measured or assessed so that they could be ranked in order of preference.

  The option appraisal information was used in a series of Value Management workshops to present complex information in a manageable form. Decisions were made by comparing options, identifying key trade-offs and reaching consensus on the preferred options through discussion and debate between the different disciplines in the project team (engineering, environmental, construction, operations, finance).

  When trying to balance the different criteria there is no analytical matrix which can simplify the site selection process. Annex D of the Environmental Statement submitted with the Planning Application for the project notes: "for a project of this complexity, with its many different components and different, often conflicting, criteria, it would be difficult if not impossible to develop a robust, numerical, multi-criteria decision method which would meet the rigorous standards required". Accordingly, a variety of tools including simple ranking, rating, scoring and weighting, trade-off graphs and pair-wise comparisons were utilised to compare options and allow overall ranking of options.

Water Authorities

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the water management and farm management improvements undertaken by the West of Scotland Water Authority in response to recommendations made by the Scottish Agricultural College in its detailed risk assessment study of the Loch Katrine catchment and the aqueducts running from Loch Katrine to the treatment works at Milngavie.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water Authority. The Chief Executive’s response is as follows:

  Water management practices have been changed within the Loch Katrine catchments. Loch Arklet and Glen Finglas are only used when possible contamination risk is low. Water is drawn from these lochs when cryptosporidium levels are below 0.03 oocysts per 10 litres for seven consecutive days.

  Recommended farm management improvements within Loch Katrine and Loch Arklet direct catchments have been implemented. These have been audited by the Scottish Agricultural College. Since then, however, the authority has taken the decision to remove sheep from the Loch Katrine catchment as a precautionary public health measure to minimise the risk of possible contamination of water supplies by animals. The operation of the new water treatment works at Milngavie will ensure the removal of the cryptosporidium bacteria.

  Recommendations made by the Scottish Agricultural College relating to the aqueducts would involve changes in farming practices in the area and we are in contact with the relevant landowners.

Water Authorities

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what methodology was used by West of Scotland Water in order to determine the best environmental option for the Katrine Water Project.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water Authority. The Chief Executive’s response is as follows:

  West of Scotland Water commissioned an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Katrine Water Project. This was undertaken by Environmental Resources Management (ERM), an internationally respected environmental consultancy.

  ERM followed the good practice guidance of the Scottish Executive (1999) Planning Advice Note 58 and Scottish Executive Circular 15/99. In cases where guidance was unavailable, ERM’s considerable internal experience was utilised.

  Performance across a range of environmental, technical and financial criteria was assessed to identify the best overall options for the project at the Value Management workshops. The environmental team was represented at all of these workshops. The process is described in Chapter 2 and in Annex D of the Environmental Statement submitted with the Planning Application.

Water Authorities

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration was given to any impact on levels of (a) usage of energy and (b) greenhouse gas emissions in the appraisal of alternatives for the Katrine Water Project.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water Authority. The Chief Executive’s response is as follows:

  Annual energy usage and resultant carbon dioxide emissions were considered for all options as part of the option appraisal and selection process. The relative performance of each option was considered along with all the other criteria during the Value Management workshops; this criterion is one of many already discussed in the answers given to questions S1W-22086 and S1W-22092 on 4 February 2002.

Water Fluoridation

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to determine whether fluoride should be added to water.

Ross Finnie: The Water (Fluoridation) Act 1985 places on health boards the onus of applying to the relevant water authority if they wish to introduce a fluoridation scheme. It is for the water authority to decide whether to implement the application.

Youth Crime

John Young (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any risk that exclusion of certain age groups of children and young people from appearing at court will result in their victims taking vigilante action.

Cathy Jamieson: Children and young people are not excluded from appearing at court, although a child under the age of eight cannot currently be prosecuted for a criminal offence. We are not aware that this has led to any vigilante action, which none of us would condone.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer whether any of the contractors involved in work on the Holyrood building project face exclusion from applying for future contracts which the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body tenders as a result of poor performance.

Sir David Steel: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21920 on 30 January 2002.